Information, Protection, & Mitigation Requirements

The WPS requires employers to provide their workers with information about pesticide exposure, protection from exposure, and mitigation plans in the event of an exposure.

Information

In order to ensure that employees are informed about exposure to pesticides, the WPS requires employers to provide the following information:

• Pesticide safety training for workers and handlers
• A pesticide safety poster, to be displayed where workers and handlers can see it
• Access to labeling information for pesticide handlers and early-entry workers
• Access to centrally located information on pesticide treatments

Protection

In order to ensure that employees are protected from exposure to pesticides, the WPS requires employers to do the following:

• Prohibit handlers from applying a pesticide in a way that will expose workers or other people.
• Protect handlers during handling tasks, including monitoring while handling highly toxic pesticides and enforcing the use of PPE.

Mitigation

In order to minimize employees' exposure to pesticides, the WPS requires employers to provide the following mitigation resources:

• Decontamination supplies, including an ample supply of water, soap, and towels for handlers and workers to perform routine washing and emergency decontamination
• Emergency assistance, including making transportation to a medical care facility available if an agricultural worker or handler may have been poisoned or injured by a pesticide, as well as providing information about the pesticides to which the person may have been exposed

To learn more about Pesticide Handler Safety visit our Pesticide Handler Safety Online Training web page.